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Matei

Boy name · 42 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Matei: 42 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 12 births in 2019.

Matei is the Romanian form of Matthew, tracing back to the Hebrew Mattityahu, meaning "gift of Yahweh." One of its most famous bearers is Matei Vișniec, the celebrated Romanian-born French playwright known for his surrealist works. In history, Matei Basarab was a significant 17th-century ruler of Wallachia who promoted culture and printing. The name also appears in the sphere of mathematics through Yuri Matiyasevich, a Russian mathematician whose surname shares the same root. Variants include the more familiar Matthew and the Slavic Matvey. In Scotland, Matei remains a relatively rare choice, though it has gained a gentle presence among families drawn to its Eastern European charm and biblical resonance.